The run-off vote in October will pit two highly contrasting candidates against each other once again, following an initial vote in April and a first, annulled run-off vote in May.

Former Greens leader Alexander Van der Bellen is running as an independent against Norbert Hofer, the candidate for the Freedom Party (FPO) – a Eurosceptic, anti-immigrant party that is gaining ground in the country.

While Mr Van der Bellen won the first run-off, the FPO successfully appealed the decision following accusations of voters fraud.

Mr Hofer had received 51.9 per cent of the initial result, not counting absentee votes – a total that was described as a “political earthquake”.